The obvious damage gets fixed; the hidden damage causes the leak three weeks later. A practical checklist for the days after a gale hits.
Most storm damage that causes a problem isn't the tile you can see missing. It's the flashing that lifted a fraction, or the ridge that cracked, which lets water in the next time it rains hard. Here's what to check in the few days after a storm, and why timing matters.
Straight Away: Make It Watertight
If water is coming in, that takes priority over everything else — move things clear, put buckets down, and get someone out to make the roof secure. Temporary covering now prevents the ceiling damage that turns a small repair into a large one.
Within A Week: Photograph And Record
Photograph every issue you can find, inside and out, before anything is repaired. Most home insurance policies cover storm damage, and the key distinction insurers draw is between damage the storm caused and deterioration that was already there. Dated photographs from the days after the storm are what proves the difference.
Check The Things That Don't Look Damaged
- Flashing — it can lift without visibly failing, and leaks later
- Ridge and verges — cracked mortar looks minor and lets in water
- Facias and gutters — often pulled slightly loose rather than off
- Skylights and dormers — seals and surrounds take wind differently to tiles
- Flat roofs on extensions and garages — a seam that opened a few millimetres won't leak until the next heavy rain
Don't Wait For The Leak
By the time water comes through a ceiling, it has often been getting in for a while — tracking along battens and soaking insulation. A quick inspection after a storm costs nothing and catches the damage while it's still a tile or a bit of flashing rather than a ceiling.
Be Wary Of Who You Let Up There
After every big storm, unmarked vans appear offering to fix roofs on the spot. They're often not local, not insured, and not findable after the money changes hands. Get a written, fixed price from someone who can tell you what they're doing and guarantee it.
If a storm has just passed through, we'll come and look — with photographs and a written assessment for your insurer where needed.
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Costs and timings in this article are guides for Medway and Kent properties. Every roof is different — a survey is the only way to get an accurate figure.